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Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie has announced his resignation weeks after Bonza wrapped up launching flights from the area.
The new low-cost carrier chose the Southern Queensland region as one of its two bases – a move that increased the number of direct services from four destinations in 2019 to 17 in 2023.
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Chairman Dennis Chant said Brodie played a “critical role” in attracting Bonza to the airport.
“The past four and a half years have been both challenging and successful for Sunshine Coast Airport, and Andrew was charged with firstly navigating the Airport through the pandemic and lockdowns, and then charting a recovery phase built around expanding direct routes and attracting new operators,” he said.
“The implementation of the Sunshine Coast Airport Master Plan 2040 began under Andrew’s leadership, and its continued roll-out of the project will be a major priority for the future, including the upgrading of the terminal, and the development of commercial opportunities in precincts within the airport.
Brodie’s other accomplishments included launching a new runway in 2020 that allowed it to accommodate larger, widebody aircraft and securing a long-term lease of Coffs Harbour Airport.
In April 2023, Sunshine Coast Airport attracted a record 162,000 passenger movements, with seasonal direct international services to Auckland to begin in June.
“Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour Airports are major economic drivers of their respective regions, and I’m proud to play a small part in creating jobs, connecting family and friends and bringing high value tourism directly for the first time into the regions,” Brodie said.
“The new international grade runway together with realising the 2040 Master Plan will ensure that Sunshine Coast Airport will continue to grow and enhance the social and economic needs of the 1 million people that are part of the Sunshine Coast (and surrounding) community.
“It has been a great honour and pleasure to have led two significant regional airports, transitioning both airports from council management to a private operator model and working alongside major stakeholders to take advantage of the exciting opportunities, including the Sunshine Coast’s role in hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Both airports have highly professional teams, an exciting vision and a strong foundation and that’s why now is the right time to hand over leadership responsibilities to a new CEO, who will lead the next phase of the Airports growth.”
Bonza earlier completed the rollout of flights from Sunshine Coast Airport with the launch of services to Tamworth.
The carrier is the first Australian operator to attempt to fly so-called “point-to-point” leisure services that skip out major cities and allow consumers to fly direct from holiday destination to holiday destination.
Bonza has said 93 per cent of its final network – 25 out of its 27 routes – is not currently flown by any other airline, while 96 per cent is not served by any other low-cost carrier. Many traditional carriers have argued its model would not work in Australia.
